Unser Racing Museum

              Racing is in the blood for one Albuquerque family. Four generations of Unser family members have raced -- and won -- major car races including Pikes Peak and nine times at the Indianapolis 500  .
                Al Unser and his son, Al Unser Jr., have brought that legacy to life in Albuquerque with the Unser Racing Museum as a tribute to motorsports. Now, visitors can see the cars up close, learn the stories behind the Unser racers, test their skills on the same style of simulators used by racers to prepare for racing, and, if they get lucky, they can even meet one of the sport's greatest in person -- Al Unser.
                "He is here on a daily basis when he is in town," said Seth McFarland, public relations officer at the museum. "He has invested a lot of time and effort into the museum."
                At the Unser Racing Museum, which opened in 2005, the stroll into racing history begins with Pikes Peak where the first generation of the Unser family of racers took the racing world by storm when Louis Unser Jr. repeatedly won the "Race to the Clouds" earning the name "King of the Mountain." Several of the cars raced at Pikes Peak are on display. Visitors can see first-hand how the cars progressed over the years.
                "I like the Pikes Peak cars best," McFarland said. "I grew up on the backside of the mountain (Pikes Peak) hearing the stories. It is a little closer to home for me."
                The museum has the actual Johnny Lightning cars that Al Unser drove in the Indianapolis 500 on display. Both the street and off-road version are available. In 1969, Unser won the National Championship earning the car the #2 for the 1970 race. The next year, the car was changed to #1 because he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1970.
                The centerpiece in the museum is a replica of the Cummins/Holset Turbo that Al Unser drove to victory in 1987.
                "At age 47, he had become the oldest driver to win the Indy 500 and beat his brother Bobby’s record." McFarland said. "He was not expected to win the race. He went to Indianapolis to support his son, Al Unser Jr. and Penske needed a driver at the last minute." (Watch the attached video where Al Unser tells the story about how he ended up racing).
                A series of race motors and of tires on display in another room of the main building depict the changes made over the years to help the cars perform faster and better. The room also has simulators showing the basics of racing geared to different age levels including the preschool age. An open tire simulator car is available here for visitors 14 years old and older to test their skills.
                After browsing the exhibits in the main building, visitors can meander past a portion of the "million dollar wall" from the Indianapolis 500 track where Al Unser Jr. crashed against the wall  in the third turn 1989 costing him over $1 million in prize money to the second building where "Jerry's Garage" and more Unser memorabilia is displayed. 
                Jerry Unser left racing to open a garage on Route 66 in 1936 and earned a reputation as a top-notch repairman. In the mock up of his garage,  authentic cars from the late 1020s to the mid-1940s are on display.
                In the Unser Racing Museum 2, there is a collection of antique automobiles, two of the Indianapolis Pace Cars, Al Unser Jr.’s  Pennzoil 71 Sprint Car which he drove as a teenager for the World of Outlaws, and the Viceroy 2. Here, visitors also will find the family archives with helmets, trophies and uniforms from Al Unser Jr. and Sr. as well as Jerry Unser.
                "We have a couple of really unique items," McFarland said.
                One of those items is the Stark and Wetzels "Top Dog of the Hoosier 100" trophy. Normally, winners are only given a replica to take home and the actual trophy stays on public display. However, after winning the race in 1970, 71 and 72, Al Unser declared that if he won a fourth time, he was going to take the real trophy home with him as well. Sure enough, he won the race again in 1973 and took both the replica and the real trophy home.
                "It shows some of his personality," McFarland said. "That's what I like about it."
HelloMetro tip: To experience Al Unser's personality yourself, call ahead to the museum to see if Al Unser is in town. If so, chances are good that he can be found roaming the buildings and talking to visitors.

- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.